• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.1050-1056
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• 2014

This study investigated the main factors influencing digester temperature and methods to reduce heat losses during the cold season in the subtropics. Four composite digesters (two insulated and two uninsulated) were buried underground to measure their internal temperature ($^{\circ}C$) at a depth of 140 cm and 180 cm, biogas production and methane ($CH_4$) concentration in biogas from August to February. In parallel the temperature of the air (100 cm above ground), in the slurry mixing tank and in the soil (10, 100, 140, and 180 cm depth) was measured by thermocouple. The influent amount was measured daily and the influent chemical composition was measured monthly during the whole experimental period. Seasonal variations in air temperature significantly affected the temperature in the soil, mixing tank and digester. Consequently, biogas production, which is temperature dependent, was influenced by the season. The main factors determining the internal temperature in the digesters were insulation with Styrofoam, air temperature and temperature of slurry in the mixing tank. Biogas production is low due to the cold climate conditions in winter in Northern Vietnam, but the study proved that storing slurry in the mixing tank until its temperature peak at around 14:00 h will increase the temperature in the digester and thus increase potential biogas production. Algorithms are provided linking digester temperature to the temperature of slurry in the mixing tank.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2012

A simple in-situ methane enrichment system in mesophilic anaerobic digestion was developed to take advantage of the differing solubilities of $CO_2$ and methane. The methane enhancement systems consisted of low solids plug-flow maize digester coupled with a leachate recycle loop to an external $CO_2$ stripper. The effects of leachate recycle rate (LRR) and reactor alkalinity on the resulting offgas $CH_4$ contents, biogas productivity and TVS removal efficiency were quantitively evaluated. The results showed that offgas $CH_4$ contents of over 94% was achieved at 3 volume of leachate recycle per volume of reactor per day (3 v/v-d) and at the reactor alkalinity of 4 g/L as $CaCO_3$, as the optimum operating conditions. The TVS removal efficiency of the methane enhancement system was 79% which corresponds to 94% of the control reactor and the methane productivity appeared to be 0.71 v/v-d. Offgas methane contents correlated well with LRR. However excessively high LRR led to the decrease in TVS removal efficiency.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.55-69
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• 2011

Use of disposer at the kitchens of Korean apartments is inevitable in treating their foodwaste having a water content of more than 80%. Also we have to ensure that this extra disposer-foodwaste BOD loadings be treated properly by installing/operating a pre-treatment system before this wastewater enters public sewer system. However, the degree of BOD removal should not be excessive since a BOD/N ratio higher than 5 is required for removing N/P at a municipal wastewater treatment plant. The removal of BOD/N in the pretreatment system rather than BOD alone can be an alternative solution in solving this problem. The particles separated by sedimentation, screen or packed-bed can be anaerobically digested at apartment sites to generate biogas that can be used for simple digester heating and to generate volatile fatty acids (VFAs) for nitrogen removal. We suggest that Korean government grants a temporary license (say for 5 years) to foodwaste treatment companies in collaboration with apartment construction companies which may do business and develop various kinds of disposer-foodwaste treatment systems in diverse wastewater discharge systems of Korean apartments.